Abstract: Delivery device 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes body portion 12 for retaining an agent to be applied to a patient's eye. Body portion 12 includes structure forming a concave surface 14, so that when the delivery device 10 is placed on the eye, the device 10 closely fits to a corneal curvature of the eye.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, and a breathable outer cover is provided with a breathable inner laminate between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate includes a breathable film and a nonwoven filament web, and is at least as breathable as the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate substantially reduces perceived dampness occurring on the external surface of the outer cover, following a liquid insult, when the article is being worn, without substantially reducing moisture flux in use via thermal insulation.

Abstract: A ostomy drainage apparatus for increasing the amount of time between emptying cycles of an ostomy device. The ostomy drainage apparatus includes a container including an apex having a first opening. A lip extends upwardly away from the opening. A tubular member has an open first end and an open second end. The tubular member is generally hollow and is flexible. The first end is removably coupled to the lip of the container. A stoma engaging device removably engages the stoma of a user. A front wall has an aperture, and is removably coupled to the stoma engaging device such that fluid from the stoma may enter the ostomy bag through the aperture. The peripheral wall has a hole therein. A neck extends away from the hole. The second end of the tubular member may be removably coupled to the neck.

Abstract: A sheath device comprises a substantially rigid elongated body adapted to receive a chest tube. The body includes a first end and a second end, flexible seal at the first end, and an air-impermeable flexible joint at the second end. A base having a first side and a second side is provided at the joint, wherein the first side is connected with the flexible joint and the second side includes an adhesive for securing the base to a patient's chest. A method of preventing pneumothorax in a patient having a chest tube removed comprises attaching the sheath device to the patient's chest at the time of the chest tube placement, later withdrawing the chest tube into the airtight chamber of the sheath, and sealing the sheath device. Removing the base and flexible joint of the sheath device from the body of the sheath device leaves an air-impermeable dressing on the patient's chest.

Abstract: An ocular inspection and treatment apparatus includes an adjustable outer housing including a peripheral edge for contacting the bony orbit surrounding the eye and an inner housing including a peripheral edge, the inner housing being concentrically disposed within the outer housing, for contacting and retracting the eyelids to expose the eye for inspection and treatment. One end of the inner housing is adapted to receive a dispenser for administering a metered spray of medicine or a lavage to the eye as it is held open by the ocular treatment apparatus. A method of using the ocular apparatus for inspecting the eye or administering the medicine or lavage to the eye include adjusting the inner and outer housings, positioning the apparatus on the eye to have the inner housing contact the eyelids peri-ocularly to retract the eyelids and to have the outer housing contact the bony orbit peri-orbitally.

Abstract: A convex adapter for ostomy appliances, including an adapter ring formed entirely of soft, moisture-absorbent, hydrocolloid-containing adhesive material that retains its integrity on hydration and is shape-recoverable, and a thin stretchable cover film (preferably transparent or translucent) removably covering and extending over and beyond the ring's convex bodyside surface. A flexible but substantially non-stretchable release sheet is removably attached to the opposite pouchside surface of the ring and may be peeled away from the ring during an initial step in the use of the product. With the release sheet so removed, a user may grasp adapter ring and its cover film and reform the ring so that its opening is sized and shaped to match a patient's stoma, after which the reformed adapter ring is adhered to the adhesive faceplate of an ostomy appliance, the cover film is removed, and the combination faceplate/adapter is adhesively secured to a patient's peristomal skin surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to hemostatic therapeutic compositions and, more particularly to methods for bringing about rapid, painless hemostasis intraorally, for dermatological applications or all other hemostasis applications. 100 to 300 micron microcapsules comprising a granular astringent hemostatic agent micro-encapsulated with a biocompatible polymer are applied to a wound. The microcapsules are applied to the wound until the outermost layer of microcapsules remain white, a visible indication that the hemostatic action is complete. Upon observation that the hemostatic action is complete the microcapsules are flushed from the wound, the wound blotted and dressed. The rapid clotting times achieved with the 100 to 300 micron size microcapsules together with the visual indication that hemostasis is complete gives the practitioner the ability to irrigate the wound and apply a protective dressing much more quickly than the prior art and excess microcapsules are not wasted.

Abstract: A urine bag holder for removably holding a urine bag to a leg of a user. The urine bag holder includes a panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end edge and a second end edge. The panel comprising a flexible material having a inside surface and an outside surface. Each of a plurality of straps is attached to the outside surface and is positioned generally adjacent to the first end edge. Each of a plurality of fastening members removably fastens free ends of each of the straps to the outside surface of the panel. A plurality of securing members removably secure a urine bag to the panel by engaging holes in the urine bag.

Abstract: The present invention is a wound treatment kit assembly for the washing, cleansing, medicinal treatment and maintenance of a wound side on the limb or torso of a patient. The kit has a plurality of flexible body component-treating bag-like envelopes, attachable to a body component; a hand manipulable fluid delivery gun; a plurality of wand-like conduits having a first end for connective attachment to the fluid delivery gun and a second end for entry into the bag-like envelope; a fluid reservoir; and a plurality of flexible delivery conduits for conducting fluid from the reservoir to the hand manipulable gun when bag-like envelope is secured to a component of a patient and the gun is in fluid communication with the bag-like envelope.

Abstract: An advancing antiseptic marking pen in which a barrel of the pen holds a plurality of antiseptic/marking tips. The tips contain a colored antiseptic substance. When an indicated area on the patient's body is cleansed, the area remains marked by the antiseptic/colorant fluid chosen so that the user of the pen can clearly ascertain the indicated area. A protective cap fits over the open end of the pen to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from contaminating the antiseptic/marking tips. When the pen is to be used, the operator must of course first remove the protective cap. The operator then depresses and slides an advancing tab on a top side of the barrel of the pen to advance an antiseptic/marking tip to an in-use position. After the indicated area is highlighted, cleansed, and simultaneously marked, the operator again depresses and slides the advancing tab to eject the used tip. The protective cap is then replaced by the operator so that the pen can be conveniently stored in a pocket.

Abstract: The invention provides a leakproof sealing system for an eyewash delivery apparatus that extends shelf life of sterile or preserved irrigant solution and is tamper evident. The sealing system has a cap that is positioned over an eye-cup. The boss extends from the cap and surrounds a plurality of spray nozzles. The seal is located adjacent the spray nozzles and is compressively held against the nozzles by a plurality of arms situated within the boss.

Abstract: Apparatus for instilling a medicament into an eye includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and a chamber disposed in the housing for containing a medicament. A nozzle is provided for instilling a dose of medicament into an eye and an actuator meters doses of medicament from the chamber to the nozzle and forces each metered dose through the nozzle upon axial displacement of the actuator along housing longitudinal axis. A spring causes the axial displacement of the actuator upon release of the spring from a compressed state. A collar disposed for rotation about the housing longitudinal axis is provided by compressing the spring by twisting the collar about the housing longitudinal axis and a trigger disposed in a housing is provided for releasing the compressed spring.

Abstract: Mechanically actuated dermatome comprising a cutting blade, a hollow handle substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cutting blade and a motor housed in the hollow handle with its shaft substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cutting blade. The cutting blade is enclosed in a housing which has a lowermost surface that rides on the skin during treatment, the lower surface being essentially parallel to the plane of the cutting part of the blade and the handle is substantially perpendicular to it and directed upwards when the dermatome rests on the lowermost surface of the blade housing. The lowermost surface that rides on the skin during treatment is smooth, without any protrusion that may interfere with its movement in any direction with respect to the skin.

Abstract: Microdermabrasion and suction massage apparatus are included in a single unit and alternatively connectable through a mode switch to a source of vacuum. The microdermabrasion section of the unit includes a crystal pick up station operating with a venturi effect to draw crystals through a hole into an air stream. The size of the hole is variable to control crystal density. A bleed valve is provided to control crystal velocity without controlling crystal density, while a bypass valve is provided to control crystal density without controlling crystal velocity. In an associated method, a microdermabrasion procedure is performed on the skin of a patient at an operative site. The mode switch is operated to activate the suction massage apparatus within the unit. This step is followed by performing a suction massage procedure at the operative site in order to promote healing of the abraded skin. The unit can be back-flushed by connecting various portions of the unit to a pressurized output of the source of vacuum.

Abstract: Apparatus for instilling a medicament into an eye includes a housing, a reservoir, disposed in the housing and movable therein along a longitudinal axis, for containing a medicament and a nozzle disposed for instilling a dose of the medicament into an eye. An actuator is disposed between the reservoir and the nozzle for metering doses of medicament from the reservoir to the nozzle and forcing each metered dose through said nozzle upon acceleration of said actuator. A spring causes longitudinal displacement of the reservoir toward a housing rear upon release of the spring from a compressed state and a depressible button disposed at the housing rear that moves the reservoir in a forward direction toward a housing front to cause compression of said spring. A trigger, disposed in the housing releases the compressed spring and causes rearward movement of the reservoir.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, a panty-liner, or a diaper includes a carrier layer against which individual fibers, detached from each other and each exhibiting two fiber ends, are attached with one fiber end against the carrier layer. There is an attachment angle &agr; between the carrier layer and each individual fiber. The individual fibers have at least a first fiber type and a second fiber type. The absorbent article further includes a liquid-pervious cover layer and a liquid acquisition layer.

Abstract: An improved ostomy face plate. The improved face plate includes a ring seal of silicone foam, a blotter ring disposed between the ring seal and the barrier seal, and an improved barrier seal compound with a low isobutylene content.

Abstract: The present invention is an invertible eye drop dispenser device, alone, and in conjunction with an eye drop dispenser container having a threaded neck. The device includes a hollow, circular base portion with a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end has a first set of internal threads and the top end has a second set of internal threads, both being of the same thread gauge, to thread onto a neck of an eye drop dispenser container. The first set of internal threads and the second set of internal threads are inverted relative to one another, so that the device may be threaded with the bottom end threaded to a container or, so that, upon inversion, the device may be threaded with the top end threaded to a container. There is also an eye cup portion attached to the bottom end of the base portion.

Abstract: Plaster at least partially covered with a layer of dextrin and/or casein and/or starch having an amylopectin content of at least 80%, which when moistened is made to adhere to the skin on which comedones are present, these being removed when the plaster is itself removed after the layer has dried.

Abstract: An orthopedic method for dynamically enhancing proper posture utilizes an elastic base garment and halter strap system. The base garment is generally collarless and sleeveless, as a stocking-like tube interconnecting a pair of shoulder pads and a waist band, which have hook-fastener securing areas. Correspondingly, the elastic halters have hook-fastener tag ends. The halter's hook fasteners are secured to the base garment's hook-fastener securing areas such that one halter supplies tension between an origin on the right shoulder pad and a termination on the waist band approximately on the left side, as the other halter supplies tension between an origin on the left shoulder pad and another termination on the waist band approximately on the right side, by courses stretching diagonally across the garment's back. Thus the halters provide diagonally-crossing filaments of tension across the patient's back in order to oppose slouching and thereby enhance proper erect posture.